Vocabulary – not ‘the youth’ but ‘youth’ (‘the youth’ is one young man – plural ‘youths’). If you use the word to mean the same as ‘young people’ it is without ‘the’ and normally takes a verb in the plural. ‘Today’s youth are playing a more active role in international relations.’

https://www.globalsociety.earth/post/the-role-of-youth-in-shaping-a-better-world-innovation-and-activism?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=19232851914&gbraid=0AAAAAo8c0P1KT3dW5GHqWmKvu2xdYBj9G&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI1OfkvM2VkgMVRYODBx1iEAF4EAAYASAAEgJIdvD_BwE

https://www.ilo.org/topics-and-sectors/youth-employment

https://www.developmentaid.org/news-stream/post/198699/international-youth-day-2025

2026

https://youthdemocracycohort.com/new-year-stronger-commitment-the-youth-democracy-cohorts-resolutions-for-2026/#:~:text=In%202026%2C%20youth%20participation%20means,in%20their%20communities%20and%20beyond.

https://reports.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Youth_Pulse_2026.pdf

https://www.ifri.org/sites/default/files/migrated_files/documents/atoms/files/the_european_youth_2026_english.pdf

https://www.thehighereducationreview.com/articles/youth-day-2026-igniting-young-minds-to-impact-the-world-nid-6639.html#:~:text=Youth%20Day%202026%20celebrates%20the,purpose%2C%20creativity%2C%20and%20resilience.

At the UN

https://www.un.org/youthaffairs/sites/default/files/2025-06/UN%20Youth%20Office%20Strategic%20Plan%202025-2028_EN.pdf

and the UN Pact for the Future (2024)

https://www.un.org/pact-for-the-future/en

https://www.un.org/pact-for-the-future/en/chapter-iv-youth-and-future-generations

and UN80 (2025)

https://www.un.org/un80-initiative/en

https://www.un.org/un80-initiative/en/news/what-un80-initiative

https://unric.org/en/secretary-general-on-un-at-80-humanity-strongest-when-we-stand-as-one/

https://www.weforum.org/stories/2025/11/un-general-assembly-turning-point-for-youth-leadership/

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=659341646962726

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdOJvrgW-HQ

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPwBRY_kWnL/

https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/09/1165975

and the UN Agenda 2030

https://www.agenziacoesione.gov.it/comunicazione/agenda-2030-per-lo-sviluppo-sostenibile/?lang=en

https://www.un.org/youthaffairs/en/youth2030/about

https://www.un.org/youthaffairs/en/youth2030/about#:~:text=Youth2030%2C%20the%20United%20Nations%20Youth,human%20rights%20and%20humanitarian%20action.

Youth and the EU

https://www.youthforum.org/news/new-report-measures-the-eu-youth-programmes-success-but-not-everyone-benefits

https://www.ifri.org/sites/default/files/migrated_files/documents/atoms/files/the_european_youth_2026_english.pdf

https://youth.europa.eu/youthweek_en

https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Statistics_on_young_people_neither_in_employment_nor_in_education_or_training

https://socialpolicyblog.co.uk/2026/01/08/addressing-the-crisis-the-eu-youth-employment-initiative-supported-opportunities-for-young-people-in-european-regions/

Italy

https://www.italiadomani.gov.it/it/il-piano/priorita-del-piano/giovani.html

https://www.lavoro.gov.it/stampa-e-media/comunicati/pagine/manovra-2026-gli-incentivi-loccupazione-di-giovani-donne-e-zes

https://www.nonsprecare.it/en/youth-unemployment-in-Italy-is-a-waste

https://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2025/11/18/ragazzi-senza-ottimismo-solo-un-terzo-vede-un-futuro-positivo-nel-paese-tra-di-loro-ce-molta-sofferenza/8199985/

2025

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gen_Z_protests

https://carnegieendowment.org/emissary/2025/12/global-protests-2025-genz-corruption-economy?lang=en

https://www.un.org/en/desa/youth-localizing-sdgs-2025-international-youth-day-spotlight-local-solutions

https://www.polisnetwork.eu/news/international-youth-day-2025-putting-youth-mobility-first/

2024

https://press.un.org/en/2024/ga12627.doc.htm

https://www.downtoearth.org.in/governance/why-the-youth-is-so-angry#:~:text=As%20per%20an%20estimate%2C%20between,a%20key%20role%20in%20them.

https://www.unicef.org/innocenti/reports/youth-protests-and-polycrisis

The definition of 'youth' according to the UN is roughly 15-24 years old.

https://www.un.org/en/global-issues/youth

https://www.un.org/esa/socdev/documents/youth/fact-sheets/youth-definition.pdf

Here are some links and notes to get you started on research for an essay.

Some of the challenges regarding young Italians:

https://agenziagioventu.gov.it/giovani-2024-il-bilancio-di-una-generazione-pubblicato-il-rapporto-eures-per-il-consiglio-nazionale-dei-giovani-e-lagenzia-italiana-per-la-gioventu/

https://agenziagioventu.gov.it/

https://consiglionazionalegiovani.it/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/CNG_PianoNazionaleGiovani_2025_Digital.pdf

https://demografica.adnkronos.com/giovani/giovani-2024-futuro-generazione/

https://demografica.adnkronos.com/popolazione/rapporto-ceto-medio-per-3-italiani-su-4-giovani-vivranno-peggio-di-oggi/

https://demografica.adnkronos.com/giovani/under-34-italiani-vivono-con-genitori-cause-stipendi-troppo-bassi-e-lavoro-instabile/

https://tg24.sky.it/economia/2023/10/12/istat-giovani-lavoro-italia

https://www.regioni.it/newsletter/n-4526/del-07-07-2023/istat-rapporto-annuale-2023-la-situazione-del-paese-25716/#:~:text=Secondo%20l'Istat%2C%20la%20dimensione,formazione%20(i%20cosiddetti%20Neet).

https://alleyoop.ilsole24ore.com/2022/06/09/preoccupazioni-giovani/?refresh_ce=1

https://formiche.net/2022/03/giovani-italiani-mastrapasqua/

https://www.oasiscenter.eu/it/rapporto-giovani-2022-il-futuro-comincia-ora-istituto-toniolo

https://www.eurofound.europa.eu/en/topic/neets

https://am.pictet/it/blog/articoli/mercati-e-investimenti/neet-il-rapporto-tra-giovani-e-lavoro

https://www.eurofound.europa.eu/en/resources/article/2023/minimum-wage-debate-italy

Now examine some current and recent events connected with youth, e.g.in Iran, Myanmar, China or the Philippines and Fridays for Future

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01-17/irans-youth-have-nostalgia-for-an-era-they-did-not-live-in/106224024

https://www.undp.org/asia-pacific/press-releases/myanmars-youth-on-hold-education-and-employment-crisis-deepens-warns-undp

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/12/17/china-youth-unemployment-civil-service-jobs-economy-slowdown.html

https://ilgaasia.org/news/corruptionbriefingnote/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fridays_for_Future

https://carnegieendowment.org/emissary/2025/12/global-protests-2025-genz-corruption-economy?lang=en

Have a look at the activities, initiatives and positions or statements by international relations organizations, governments and public figures, e.g. or a public position or statement by an international relations figure, e.g.the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1m06dqXo4bw

https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/lt/speech_24_5227

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=541842580800220

or Greta Thunberg's impassioned speech at the United Nations Climate Action Summit on 23 September 2019

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9KxE4Kv9A8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAJsdgTPJpU